PREFACE 



This document was prepared as a source for complete information on the National 

 Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) investigation of an apparent anomalous mortality event 

 involving bottlenose dolphins during January-June, 1990, in the coastal northern and western 

 U.S. Gulf of Mexico. As such, it contains numerous tables, appendices, and other 

 information that might not be included in a paper prepared for pubhcation. The report was 

 reviewed by the NMFS Task Force on Unusual Marine Mammal Mortalities; the Service 

 wishes to thank them for taking the time to review such a large document and for providing 

 many useful comments and suggestions for improving the report. 



